Apple iPhone 16 Pro: Evolution in design, power, and photography
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The iPhone 16 Pro brings forward a slew of iterative upgrades and the promise of revolutionary Apple intelligence in a future update. From stunning new colours to enhanced camera capabilities, Apple’s 16th iteration of the iPhone Pro lineup offers a more immersive and efficient experience.
The design feels robust yet refined, thanks to colour-matched aluminium bands that blend seamlessly with the device.
The iPhone 16 has fresh new colour options, including pink, teal, white, black, and ultramarine finishes. The Pro models are more muted and made from durable and lightweight titanium in natural, desert, white, and black colourways. I received the iPhone 16 Pro in the natural titanium finish for this review, and I love its understated tones.
The action button, which debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro, is now standard across all iPhone 16 models. It’s a versatile tool that can be customised based on time of day, location, or device orientation. I programmed mine to launch reminders when held in portrait mode and switch to the TV app when in landscape mode, a simple yet powerful way to make your iPhone experience more fluid and intuitive. You can also set it to launch the torch, voice memo, translate, change focus modes, launch a shortcut to open an app or run your favourite shortcut.
The iPhone 16 Pro features a larger 6.3-inch display, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the largest iPhone display ever at 6.9 inches. The larger displays were achieved by reducing the bezels, not by making the body bigger.
The iPhone 16 Pro hits the sweet spot between having a large display and a compact form factor. The jump from 6.1 to 6.3 inches is an appreciable upgrade from the 15 Pro.
iOS 18 ships with the iPhone 16 Pro, and everything from the camera app to the UI is more customisable. Apple has embraced user personalisation on a deeper level, giving users more control over their experience. You can now adjust lock screen shortcuts, making it easy to launch your favourite apps with a single press. I found this feature to be particularly useful when paired with Focus modes. For example, while in work mode, my lock screen adapted to highlight productivity apps like Calendar and Mail.
Customising the home screen is also more intuitive. iOS 18 allows you to choose between dark mode, time-based themes, or even app icons that tint with your wallpaper. I especially appreciated how well these features integrated with Control Centre, offering me more control over my iPhone’s layout than ever before. You can resize and move controls in Control Centre to fit your needs.
One of the most hyped updates is the new camera control, which features an advanced sapphire crystal and stainless steel trim. This touch sensor was designed for precision shooting — a light press opens the camera, and holding it down starts recording video at up to 4K, 60 fps. The sensitivity can be adjusted within the accessibility menu, giving you more control.
The tactile feedback is a nice touch. Sliding your finger along the control adjusts exposure, while double-tapping brings up custom controls. However, as soon as I put on the new Apple case, I had to press a little harder, and on either side, the control area wasn’t as slick as it is without the case. In reality, as much as I really wanted to love the new control, I found it wasn’t as intuitive or as precise as I’d have liked. Hopefully, with future updates, it will get better.
It’s great that the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have the same camera system, so there’s no penalty if you want the more compact Pro.
The iPhone 16 Pro takes the "fusion" camera concept further. It combines the light-gathering capabilities of a 12MP lower-exposure shot with the detail captured in a 48MP image, resulting in stunning 24MP photos with zero shutter lag. The enhanced sensor provides more accurate colours and captures incredible detail in low-light conditions, making it a true asset for mobile photographers.
For the first time, macro photography is available on non-Pro models, too. This opens up possibilities for capturing extreme close-ups with crystal-clear detail. Including macro autofocus is a welcome addition, allowing for sharper and more vibrant photos.
When it comes to video, the iPhone 16 Pro shines. The phone now records spatial audio by default, adding to the immersion of your videos, particularly when paired with AirPods. I tested this feature by capturing some outdoor footage, and I was impressed with how well it recreated a three-dimensional sound experience, especially when played back with AirPods Pro 2.
Another feature that improves video is automatic wind noise reduction. In a test video shot on a windy day, the reduction in ambient wind noise was significant, with the software automatically isolating and clarifying voices in the video. This feature is on by default and works in the background, adding to the ease of use for the average user.
The iPhone 16 Pro now supports 4K at 120 frames per second for those who love slow-motion video. This high frame rate allows for professional-grade slow-motion footage. With a new playback speed adjuster in iOS 18, you can easily dial in the slow-motion effect to your liking. Combined with improved thermal performance, the iPhone 16 Pro can sustain this high-performance level longer, making it ideal for more demanding video shoots.
At the heart of the iPhone 16 Pro is the A18 Pro chip, built on a second-generation 3-nanometer process. This powerhouse delivers a 30% performance increase over the iPhone 15 while being 30% more efficient at the same time. In real-world terms, this means smoother gameplay, faster app launches, and improved multitasking. It also supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing, bringing console-quality graphics to the iPhone.
The A18's neural engine is also twice as fast as its predecessor, enabling more responsive AI-driven features such as Apple Intelligence. However, it won’t be available in Ireland for a while, and there’s no information on when it will be available either. If you’re looking forward to Apple’s new AI tools, you’ll need an iPhone 15 Pro or greater, but I wouldn’t buy one with the hope that it’s coming soon.
The A18's efficiency also translates into significant battery life improvements, ensuring you can make the most of the iPhone 16 Pro’s capabilities throughout the day. Apple has managed to squeeze in a larger battery while maintaining a sleek profile for the iPhone 16 Pro. Paired with the efficiency of the A18 chip, this results in noticeably better battery life. In my tests, the iPhone 16 Pro lasted through a full day of heavy use, including video recording, gaming, and browsing. It’s worth noting that the iPhone 16 Pro Max has an even larger battery and should last even longer.
The new MagSafe charger offers 30-watt fast charging, delivering a 50% charge in just 30 minutes. It matches the speed of wired charging, making it a great option for users who want the convenience of wireless charging without compromising on speed.
The iPhone 16 Pro hasn’t changed much in terms of style, apart from some new colours. I love the new upgraded camera system, and while the A18 chip is a powerhouse on paper, I didn’t notice any significant difference in day-to-day tasks moving from the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Still, the sum of all the refinements adds up to a meaningful upgrade.
iPhone 16 Pro from €1,239